NAIROBI: Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o on Sunday June 7, 2015 wrote an article titled “Mr President, Central Bank of Kenya appointments indicate ethnic balance lacking”.
Let me from the onset confess that Prof Nyong’o is not only a personal friend but was also my lecturer in 1988/89 at USIU when I was studying for an MBA. We have therefore engaged each other on National matters more than with any of his colleagues in the Senate.
When I read his article, I felt disturbed because it apparently sounded very well thought out and justifiable. Sen. Nyong’o’s discomfort to the nominee is not because of his qualifications but due to the content of his ethnic background. Let me also confirm I have never met or seen or known the nominee to the Central bank of Kenya (CBK) and therefore do not speak for him or the appointing authority.
My concern is informed by the impression the article create; which is that the nominee happened to be from a community which Sen. Nyong’o believes has been favored over the years with the appointment to positions in the National Treasury and CBK institutions. Is this unique to Kenya?
Just in case Sen. Nyong’o may be unaware, from 1987 to date, all three chairmen of the Federal Reserve Board(FRB) in US, that is Allan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke and the current holder Janet Yellen, are of Jewish extraction and for over 28 years FRB has been headed by Jews only. Sen.
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Nyong’o who is a prolific reader and an intellectual in his own right is certainly not unaware of this fact. Does the leadership of FRB by Jews explain why the community has above average influence in almost their very sphere of life in the entire United States? You can discern that yourself!
In the US, there are probably more than a hundred times Kenya’s ethnic groups who make up that Nation. But the US celebrates diversity and they are more interested in the intellect capabilities and competences of individuals. Does it mean the US is all perfect? Not at all and nor is Kenya.
In Kenya, like any other countries, there will be people who may never serve in the highest positions in Public Service. However, we need to look at whether the persons appointed have the ability to discharge the mandate in the position they are called upon to serve not necessarily whether the jobs are held by persons of different ethnic persuasions.
Currently, we have disproportionate number of our top athletes, rugby and football players, professors, farmers, fishermen, thieves, prisoners, mukokoteni pushers and so forth from different ethnic communities. Should we allocate to others their achievements in the respective endeavors, based on ethnic profiling? This absurdity and unnaturalness is illogical and must stop.
It worries me most when I realize the amount of time Kenyans spend discussing one’s background and not creativity they bring to bear in inventorying our country with production of goods and services, which is, the most important role they can play.
As to what your ethnic background is, it is largely irrelevant and to say the least irrational. But more importantly, it is a province of the provident who makes determination as to who is born where and what their racial, religious and ethnic particularization is. Senator, you and I cannot and will never change this reality.
Does it matter whether we all are from the same ethnic, religious or linguistic harmony, as has been ably demonstrated by the Somali Scenario? History has shown some leaders always exploit identity or distinction based on race, ethnic, clannism or some other characteristic for their selfish ends to the detriment of the very people they claim to speak for.
Our focus must be what positive contribution an individual makes. Albert Einstein and other greats played their part based on individual endowment(s). We should take a cue from them and move on in building our great nation.
The infamous example of Nazi Germany which fanned racial hatred against the Jews caused millions of deaths whose consequences were too ghastly to have been contemplated by then. Here at home we are alive to 41 against One in 2005/2007 political doctrine, which hopefully offers a lesson never to be repeated again.
In the final analysis, am I justifying employment of this or that ethnic group in certain institutions only? Never. But we must move away from this diabolic obsession with ethnic profiling.
Our concern is whether institutions are discharging their mandate and offering serious oversight to avoid lack of transparency and abuse of office by individual appointees.
